At the end of January, summer holidays in July or August can seem to be very far away, but travel agents are already busy advertising the attractions of this place or that this summer. For those who prefer to spend their holiday in a Christian atmosphere, whether as individuals, as families or as church groups, there are a number of opportunities. Clar Ellagh, at Kilkee, Co Clare, offers special interest holidays in April, June, August and September combining Bible studies, arts and crafts with more general holiday pursuits.
Throughout the summer the more general holiday-maker is welcome. Details may be had from the secretary at 92 Landscape Park, Dublin 14.
There are Christian Endeavour holiday centres at Conwy and Rhos-on-Sea in north Wales, Saltburn in Yorkshire, Ventnor in the Isle of Wight, Overstand and Sheringham in Norfolk, and Rock in Cornwall. Details may be had from C.E. Holiday Centres Ltd, 11 Whiterails Drive, Ormskirk, Lancashire L39 3BE.
Methodists planning holidays in Europe may find it useful to know that there are Englishspeaking Methodist services at Vien na, Copenhagen, Bielefeld, Berlin, Dortmund, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Hamburg (two churches), Hanover (simultaneous English translation), Munich, Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Rotterdam, Milan, Rome and Valletta.
The growth of the congregations at Movilla Abbey in Newtownards has necessitated a new and larger building, and work on this has started.
For some years the building now in use has been shared by the Church of Ireland and Methodist congregations of the neighbour hood, and this co-operation will continue to develop in the new church. It is expected to cost something over £600,000, and the cost is being shared by the two denominations.
The Rev Kenneth and Ms Frances Todd of Cork are coming near the end of a visit to India and Sri Lanka. Mr Todd rep resented the Irish and British Methodist Churches at the biennial synod of the Church of South India, which met in Hyderabad.
They also went to Sri Lanka to visit the Kollupitiya Methodist Church which has long had strong links with Ireland. The minister there is an Irishman, the Rev Stephen Skuce, and among his predecessors were the Revs Robert Nelson, George Good and Norman Taggart.
The president of the church, the Rev Dr Kenneth Wilson, will preach tomorrow morning in Donegall Road Methodist church in Belfast, and in the evening in Moira, Co Down. On Wednesday, he will visit the Irish School of Ecumenics. On Sunday, January 30th, he will be in Co Fermanagh. In the morning he will address the congregation at Ballinamallard, and in the evening at Irvinestown.
The Joint Theological Working Party, made up of members of the Church of Ireland and the Methodist Church, will hold a two-day meeting on January 25th and 26th. The Archbishop of Armagh and the President of the church will attend part of the meeting.
A training session for children's leaders is taking place in the church at Finaghy on January 30th, between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., led by Mr John Hardwick.
A course on Christian drama begins at the Edgehill Christian Education Centre, Edgehill College, Belfast, on February 2nd, classes being on Wednesday evenings.
The Methodist College Senior Girls' Choir, which won the award as Sainsbury Choir of the Year, will give a concert in Sydenham Methodist Church at 7.30 p.m. on February 4th. Tickets may be had from the minister of the church.
The ECONI Bridge-Builders' Course Two will consider the role of the church in a divided community. It will be held on 10 Tuesdays, from January 25th to March 28th, at Howard House, Brunswick Street, Belfast. Each class will last from 7.30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Details may be had from ECON at 028 9032 5258.